Shantha - The Lone Princess of the Solar Dynasty!

Here comes my first post on Ramayana, another of the two great epics of India. This epic is primarily based on the Seventh Avatar of Lord Vishnu – Lord Rama, where the Lord assumes the life of a human and shows us the right path to be followed.

Lord Rama (son of Queen Kausalya) is known to have three younger brothers – Bharata (son of Queen Kaikeyi) and Lakshmana & Shatrugana (sons of Queen Sumitra). Not known to many, Lord Rama also had a sister, by name Shantha – born to Dasharatha & Kausalya.

Early life of Dasharatha

Dasharatha was born to King Aja of the Solar Dynasty, who ruled the Southern parts of the Kosala Kingdom. His mother was Indumathi, an Apsara (a celestial nymph), born on earth due to a curse. After her curse was lifted, Indumathi flew back to the heavens – following which King Aja also died, grief-stricken by her absence.

Dasharatha grew up under the care of the able minister, Sumanthra and ascended the throne of Southern Kosala, when it was the right time. He insisted on marrying Kausalya, the daughter of the Northern Kosala King – even though both of them belonged to the Solar Dynasty. The King of Northern Kosala – Dakshina, agreed to give his daughter’s hand to Dasharatha and the wedding was solemnized to take place in a few days.

Abduction by Ravana

Ravana, the prince of Lanka, had called on Lord Brahma, after severe penance to seek the boon of immortality. Lord Brahma however advised him to drop such thoughts as death was inevitable and his death would lie in the hands of the offspring of Dasharatha & Kausalya.

Fearing his death, Ravana wanted to kill Kausalya, but was stopped by his wife Mandodari, who advised him against commiting the big sin of “Stree Hati” (killing of a woman). This made him arrive at the conclusion that, if Dasharatha & Kausalya were forbidden from marrying, then they could have no children.

He then abducted Kausalya, put her in a box and let the box float in a river, assuming that she would die herself. However, Dasharatha found the box at the right time and saved her life. Immediate arrangements were made for their marriage and the wedding ceremony was conducted in great pomp.

Birth of Shantha

Soon after their marriage, Kausalya gave birth to a girl child – whom they named Shantha. But to their horror, the child she had given birth to was handicapped.

**This was because Dasharatha & Kausalya were from the same “Gotra” or clan (King Aja & King Dakshina, rulers of Southern & Norther Kosala kingdoms, were different branches of the Solar Dynasty), which is being scientifically re-stated these days that marriage between immediate cousins might result in deformities.

It was advised that if Shantha was left in the custody of divine people, she would lose her handicap and regain normalcy. Thus, it was decided that Shantha would be adopted by Romapada, the King of Angadesa. The wife of Romapada, Varshini was the sister of Kausalya. Hence Shantha was acutally given in adoption to her maternal aunt & uncle. Under the able care of the religious couple, Shantha was soon cured of her deformities and grew into a beautiful girl, well-versed in the Vedas & Arts.

Shantha’s Marriage

Once, King Romapada incurred the wrath of Lord Indra, the King of the Devas, who cursed that his kingdom would not have any monsoon that season. Unable to see the plight of his citizen farmers, the king called upon Maharishi Rishya Sringa, to perform a Yagna that would bring rains to his kingdom.

After successful completion of the Yagna, the kingdom received enough rainfall. The king could not thank the Maharishi enough and proposed the marriage of his daughter with him. Maharishi Rishya Sringa agreed and the marriage between him and Shantha was held amidst festivities.

** Maharishi Rishya Sringa was the Rishi who performed the Puthra Kameshti Yagna, held by Dasharatha, to beget sons as heirs to his kingdom. Lord Rama, Bharatha, Lakshmana & Shatrughana were born after this Yagna.